Simply put, your stance is whether you're more comfortable riding left or right foot forward. This is referred to as goofy or regular foot and will determine which way you mount your bindings.

So which is it and how should you ride? It's strictly a matter of preference - either way is fine. If you've ever ridden a skateboard or done any type of riding that requires a lead foot, you probably know what type of stance you prefer. If not, try this. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart, bend slightly at the knees. Now, ever so slightly, rock your weight forward onto your lead foot. Make a mental note for how it feels. Now, do the same with your opposite foot as the lead. Whichever stance felt more stable is likely to be the one that you will feel most comfortable leading with. If it was left foot forward, you're a regular foot. If it was your right, you're a goofy-foot.

Stance Width
The width of your stance and your bindings should be about shoulder width apart or slightly wider. The easiest way to determine this is to stand on a chair, hop off and land in a balanced position. Try this several times varying your landing stance and measure the distance between your heels. Whichever one feels most stable is a good estimate for your stance. For most people, it will be between 18 and 22 inches. If you can't decide, some common widths are as follows: For a rider under 5'6" tall, a good width is 18 to 19 inches, for a rider taller than 5'6", 19 to 22 inches works.

Duck Feet
The angle of your foot placement in relation to the board is like your stance, it based on a personal preference and what type of riding you intend on doing. To determine the correct angle, look closely at the bindings, the angles are printed right on 'em. For freeride and freestyle riders, the front binding should be angled anywhere from 10 to 30 degrees. I recommend starting at 21 degrees for the front binding, and adjusting from there based on what feels natural and comfortable to you.

The back binding can be angled toward the front of the board like the front binding, or toward the back of the board-- known as duck-foot (duck-footed positions have binding angles in the negative range). The rear binding should be angled anywhere from about -15 to +10 degrees, depending on what is most comfortable for you. To find your optimal setting, I recommend starting with a rear binding angle of 0, or straight across the board. Then adjust from there until your feet feel comfortable and at ease.

Take a Stand
Just like your lead foot and stance width, your stance angle is unique. Since snowboard bindings are adjustable and easy to change, you can tweak with your settings to try different ones. You may find that you feel more comfortable with settings based on conditions or the type of riding you're doing rather than a manufactures recommendation.